A new survey has revealed that 52% of people believe there is a 'negative stigma' attached to asking their local council help if they fall into debt.

The survey, conducted by Echo Managed Services, found that more than a third of these people (36%) blame the practices used by their local authority body for making them feel that way.

These respondents said advisers at the council tended to be ‘offhand’ or ‘aggressive’ in their communication.

Monica Mackintosh, customer services director at Echo Managed Services, said: 'Understandably, falling behind on your payments can be a very stressful time, so it is concerning that so many people may feel too embarrassed to ask for help; something which may further compound the issue.

'Debt affects a huge cross-section of people, for many different reasons, so it’s crucial that local authority bodies work hard to understand the issues of every single individual and help them to find a balanced resolution.'

The survey also found only 25% of customers felt valued by their local council.